3-Year-Old Cancer Patient Dies At AIIMS Bhopal After Nurse Injects Him With Hazardous Chemical

Published 14 June 2026 · health

3-Year-Old Cancer Patient Dies At AIIMS Bhopal After Nurse Injects Him With Hazardous Chemical Published By, Last Updated: June 14, 2026, 14:26 IST The incident

3-Year-Old Cancer Patient Dies At AIIMS Bhopal After Nurse Injects Him With Hazardous Chemical Published By, Last Updated: June 14, 2026, 14:26 IST The incident that occurred in December 2025 and has now led to criminal charges against two nursing officers following an internal inquiry by the premier medical institute. Rapid Read The child was admitted to AIIMS Bhopal for treatment of B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL). A three-year-old boy undergoing treatment for blood cancer at AIIMS Bhopal died after he was allegedly injected with formalin, a toxic chemical used to preserve biopsy samples. The case of gross medical negligence, occurred in December 2025 and has now led to criminal charges against two nursing officers following an internal inquiry by the premier medical institute. The child, identified as Sarthak Yadav from Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district, was admitted to AIIMS Bhopal for treatment of B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL), a form of blood cancer.

According to police documents and media reports, a bone marrow biopsy had been scheduled for the child, for which formalin was brought into the ward in a syringe. Although the procedure was later postponed, the syringe was allegedly left unattended near the patient’s bed instead of being safely discarded or stored. According to the reports, on December 17, when the child’s intravenous line became blocked, a nursing officer mistakenly picked up the syringe containing formalin and injected it into the IV line without verifying its contents. Nurse Ignore Father’s Warning The FIR states that the child’s father repeatedly warned the nurse that the syringe did not contain IV flushing fluid, but the warnings were allegedly ignored. Moments later, the child lost consciousness and was rushed to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, where doctors attempted emergency treatment and resuscitation.

He was declared dead shortly afterwards. An internal AIIMS inquiry reportedly concluded that the intravenous administration of formalin directly caused the child’s death and found serious lapses in the handling of hazardous chemicals within the ward. FIR Registered Against Two Nursing Officers Based on the findings, police registered an FIR against two nursing officers under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to causing death by negligence and negligent handling of hazardous substances. Both staff members have reportedly been suspended pending further investigation. Formalin, an aqueous solution of formaldehyde, is commonly used in laboratories to preserve tissues, biopsy samples and cadavers, and is highly toxic if introduced into the human body. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad.